We help our nurses develop the skills that allow them to feel confident in providing care for the most medically complex children. Our in-house practice education team will work with you to develop a training programme and develop your competencies. Particularly in the areas of suction, oxygen administration, seizure management, single checking of enteral medications, TPN administration, IV administration, subcut administration, tracheostomy, ventilation and catheterisation.
Nursing careers with us
As a nurse at Shooting Star Children's Hospices, you'll use your skills to deliver exceptional care to the children and families we support. Whatever your nursing background, we'll help you develop the wide array of clinical skills needed to care for children with the most complex medical needs. As all our care is delivered one-to-one, you'll also have the time to deliver holistic, patient centred care. You can help children and families create magical memories, whether at our hospices, in their homes or at one of our many trips and events. It's an exciting time to be joining our charity, as we expand our services with the aim to reach every family that needs our support. Contact us today to learn more about continuing your nursing career with us.
Get in touch
Why our nurses say 'Go for it!'
You'll develop your skills
You'll be supported
The care we provide includes respite stays, symptom management stays and end of life stays. At times our work can be highly emotional, so we offer regular one-2-ones, group supervision, pre-briefs and de-briefs and a mental health first aider scheme. We also offer TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) a practical and supportive way of managing the impact of being involved in a difficult (traumatic) work related event. This is available to to all staff and volunteers. You can also access support via our Vivup platform.
You can build a career
Our current strategy of being their for every family means that we are expanding the service provision we offer and are keen to develop our nurses careers. There is an expectation that Band 5 nurses will work towards becoming Band 6 within three years. Many nurses who have started with us at Band 5 have gone on to become Band 7, leading on the care we provide, or moving into our community or symptom management (Space) teams.
Key benefits
NHS salary matching
Our salaries are matched to the NHS.
Keep your NHS Pension
You can carry on paying into your NHS Pension, or join our Shooting Star pension scheme.
Family friendly
We offer enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
Starlight Academy
Our bespoke Learning and Development programme.
A free lunch
Free nutritionally balanced meals at Christopher’s, our Guildford hospice, and free parking.
Discounts
Vivup and Bluelight card discounts on many retailers, plus staff discount in our charity shops.
Georgia
“I started working at Shooting Star as a Band 5 nurse coming from a hospital environment. Within a year and a half, I then became a Band 6 nurse, one of the senior staff nurses. I have now progressed to a Band 7 lead nurse, and will be doing my trainee advanced nurse practitioner qualification. I never thought I would have the opportunity to be an advanced nurse practitioner. So I definitely credit the hospice in being able to support me and push me to do that role.”
Nursing roles
Our Band 5 nurses look after children and young people who are receiving respite care, symptom management and end-of- life care, as well as providing post bereavement care. Care is generally one-2-one so you will support one child during each shift. Duties include administering medication, completing care plants, admissions and discharge, administering gastrostomy feeds and assisting with oral feeding. They also take part in hydrotherapy sessions and going on trips. Nurses will work directly with families of supported children, as well as other teams within the hospice.
Band 6 nurses key duties are shift leading, covering the on-call rota, holding 1:1s with Health Care Assistants, handovers with GPs, attending the daily ‘Huddle’ meeting and liaising with external teams regarding end of life and post bereavement admissions. In addition they will cover similar duties to our Band 5 nurses: Looking after children and young people who are receiving respite care, symptom management and end-of-life care, as well as providing post bereavement care. Duties include administering medication, completing care plants, admissions and discharge, administering gastrostomy feeds and assisting with oral feeding, as well as taking part in hydrotherapy sessions and going on trips.
We also have our Community team and our Specialist Paediatric Palliative Care team (SPACE team). Our Community team provide a first point of contact with new families and deliver care within homes. Our SPACE team provide specialist paediatric palliative care to babies, children and young people both at home, in hospital and at our hospice.
Get in touch
Interested in learning more about our nursing careers at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices? We are happy to have an informal chat or arrange a time to come and visit our hospice.
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Other benefits
We offer a competitive remuneration package with additional unsocial hours payments, and much more.
Bank staff
We occasionally also have spaces within our roster of Bank Nurses. Please get in touch if you would like to know more.
See us for yourself
Our Professional Open Days are a chance for medical professionals to come and see our hospice and learn about the work we do.